“A song in contemplation of the point at which a state of being (or matter) becomes definitively altered; after what threshold is the writer inspired, the water made solid, the climax reached, and the boundary breached.” Senna-Marie is a Johannesburg-based songwriter and interdisciplinary artist. ‘Threshold’ was written during the FIC SCI 2024, a writing residency in Stellenbosch, inspired by the Antarctic Sea-Ice Scientist Dr Tokoholo Rampai. inspired. As the track began, I was immediately hit with intense feelings of isolation, this in thanks to the abstract lyricism present all throughout the track, pushing and pulling you like waves crashing ashore.

These feelings are further heightened by the instrumental and vocals, the way the strings breathe, and the drums ripple quickly without hesitation, the vocals flowing like a red ribbon in the wind. These elements culminate together, putting you in a state of meditation; the Björk influence is not lost on me. The way the music is paced brought me to an emotional crescendo of pure bliss. Listening to ‘Threshold’ feels like watching someone else’s life flash before your eyes. 

It’s one of those once in a blue moon compositions that breaks the cycle of consumption we as artists can often find ourselves trapped in, putting up the mirror to our very own smug faces. I keep coming back to one lyric in particular, “is this what it takes?” which questions the nature of making art and in return makes us as artists confront ourselves with that same inquiry. I would like to dedicate a section of this article to the music video for “Threshold”. Nicola Pilkington’s visuals absolutely blew me away, cut together in a motion that feels like a dance. The imagery braces against your cortex, with expansive shots of Antarctica and gargantuan sailing vessels collaged against ever-melting icecaps; all while a person dances in a room that does not feel of this world.

The lens flares blind you as you take this ride through pure emotion, this in conjunction with the stellar editing brought through the already masterful composing to a new state of being, bringing it even further to life than it already was. Senna-Marie’s work on this project was one of a kind, and I can’t wait to see what direction she takes her art next, whether it be still or moving, it’s going to be something worth seeing. Thank you and goodnight.